Birmingham City boss Lee Clark is hoping to secure the loan signing of Manchester United starlet Jesse Lingard until the end of the season despite already landing Albert Rusnak from Manchester City.
Lingard, 21, bagged six goals and three assists in 13 Championship appearances for the Blues earlier this season, including a four-goal performance on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday.
The England Under-21 has since returned to Old Trafford and was an unused substitute against Swansea on 11 January.
“I am still in conversation with David Moyes and his staff about Jesse – that isn’t completely dead – and one or two other things,” Clark told the Birmingham Mail.
“I am also having conversations with other clubs regarding some of the top young players to bring them in on loan.
“When I sat down with Patrick Vieira at Manchester City to talk about bringing Albert here I told him the fixtures that Albert would play in and that, potentially, other players at Manchester City could do.
“I am trying to build a relationship with all these big clubs.”
Birmingham, with or without Lingard, will host table toppers Leicester City in their next league fixture on Tuesday evening.
West Ham sign Borriello, Nocerino
Premier League strugglers West Ham United have confirmed the loan signing of Antonio Nocerino from AC Milan, according to the club’s official website, www.whufc.com.
Nocerino, whose current contract at the San Siro expires in the summer of 2016, made 18 appearances in all competitions for Milan this season, tallying two assists.
The Italy international, 28, began is professional career at Juventus before moving to Palermo and eventually settling in Milan in August 2011.
Nocerino, who had been out-of-favour under recently sacked manager Massimiliano Allegri, has been allowed to leave on loan for the rest of the 2013/14 Serie A campaign by newly appointed boss Clarence Seedorf.
The 28-year-old is most comfortable in central midfield but can also play on the left flank.
In other news, the Hammers have announced the loan coup of A.S. Roma striker Marco Borriello.
Borriello, 31, will join a strike force which currently consists of Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole, Modibo Maíga and Ricardo Vaz Te.
However, the addition of Borriello will likely lead to the sale of Maíga, who is reportedly on the verge of signing for Turkish Süper Lig side Sivasspor.
“West Ham United are delighted to announce their second signing of the day – Italy international Marco Borriello has joined on loan until the end of the 2013/14 season,” read a statement on the club’s website.
“Capped seven times, Borriello joins the Hammers from Serie A club AS Roma and will add strength, presence and goals to Sam Allardyce’s squad.”
Both Borriello and Nocerino are expected to be on the matchday squad when West Ham travel to Stamford Bridge to take on third-placed Chelsea on Wednesday, 29 January 2014.
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